Magnetic article sorting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction including an elongated hollow casing of nonmagnetic material, an elongated magnetic core assembly rotatably received in said casing, and a ramp of nonmagnetic material wound spirally around the casing for causing articles attracted by the magnetic core assembly to advance along the length of the casing and upon rotation of the core assembly relative to the casing.

United States Ptent 11 1 Elliott 1 Sept. 18, 1973 1 1 MAGNETIC ARTICLESORTING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Eldon G. Elliott, 32428 Maryland,

Livonia, Mich. 48150 [22] Filed: May 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 142,954

[52] 11.8. CI. 193/41, 198/213 [51] Int. Cl. 1B65g 17/46 [58] Field ofSearch 198/41, 213;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,940,583 6/1960 Lovercheck198/41 2,964,182 12/1960 Spurlin 198/220 BC 3,667,591 6/1972 Sykes198/220 BC FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,130,363 5/1962 Germany..198/41 1,206,926 2/1960 France 198/41 Primary Examiner-Richard E.Aegerter 4 A tzorney Owen E. Perry 57 ABSTRACT Apparatus for handlingarticles by magnetic attraction including an elongated hollow casing ofnonmagnetic material, an elongated magnetic core assembly rotatablyreceived in said casing, and a ramp of nonmagnetic material woundspirally around the casing for causing articles attracted by themagnetic core assembly to advance along the length of the casing andupon rotation of the core assembly relative to the casing.

18 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 18, 1973 3,759,367v

g I N VEN TOR gel 0!? 6;. 157/606? Ma M06 7 AT TO R N EYS MAGNETICARTICLE SORTING APPARATUS This invention relates generally to articlehandling apparatus and is particularly concerned with magnetic articlesorting, parts handling, and/or parts storage apparatus and systems.

There are many industrial processes wherein it is necessary to separateferrous, or magnetically attractive material, from nonmagnetic material.Frequently, it is necessary to separate metal particles, chips andfilings from a liquid slurry for the purpose of cleaning the liquid andalso for recovering the metal particles.

There are also frequent occasions when it is necessary to remove smallmetal parts, such as bolts, bearings, rivets, and the like from astorage area, and sort and transmit the parts to another storage area,or to other collection bins and/or assembly areas or conveyors.

Such operations lend themselves to the use of magnetism for separatingand sorting the magnetically attractive material or articles. Severalprior art devices are disclosed wherein magnetically attractiveparticles are caused to move in a helical-or spiral path by magneticforce. See, for example, U. S. Pat. Nos. 572,369; 736,298; and2,728,722.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for handlingarticles by magnetic attraction wherein the articlesmovealong a spiralramp wound around a casing of nonmagnetic material having good corrosionand wear resistant properties in which is rotatably received a magneticcore assembly for causing the articles to advance along the length ofthe casing upon rotation of the magnetic core assembly.

Another object is to provide apparatus for handling small articles orparts of magnetically attractive material by rotating a magnetic coreassembly within .a casing of nonmagnetic material with means provided onthe outer surface of the casing to cause thearticles to advance alongthe length of the casing in response to rotation of the magnetic coreassembly.

ln carrying out the foregoing, and other objects, apparatus according tothe present invention includes an elongated hollow casing of nonmagneticmaterial with an elongated magnetic core assembly rotatably received inthe casing. A ramp of nonmagnetic material is wound spirally around thecasing for causing articles attracted by the magnetic core assembly toadvance along the length of the casing upon rotation of the coreassembly relative to the casing.

The pitch of the spiral ramp may vary such that the distance betweenadjacent coils of the ramp progress sively decreases at one end of theramp to thin the articles out into a single layer when they reach thedischarge end of the apparatus.

The casing is cylindrical, and the ramp extends radially outwardly fromthe casing and is wound in a helical or spiral path around the casing. Aplurality of rollers is mounted on the magnetic core assembly andengages the inner surface of the casing to provide transverse supportfor the magnetic core assembly, and also to prevent the casing fromcollapsing from the force exerted by the articles due to the magneticattractionot the magnetic core assembly as the articles are moved alongthe length of the casing.

At the discharge end of the spiral ramp, a collection tray or shelf isformed and includes a divider separating the shelf into a plurality ofguideways. The articles can then be grouped on opposite sides of thedivider and fed through a discharge chute to storage, collection bins orassembly stations. An alternating current demagnetizing coil may bemounted in the path of the articles in such a manner that the articlesdischarged from the spiral ramp pass through the field of thedemagnetizing coil so that the molecules of the articles are disorientedto destroy any magnetism created in the articles by the magnetic coreassembly.

Other objects, advantages and features of the inven tion will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawingsin which: 1

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of apparatusembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to'FIGi. 2 of an alternative construction.

The drawings illustrate apparatus according to the invention as used totransfer parts a from a supply at the lower end of the apparatus to achute l at the upper end of the apparatus. The apparatus shown in thedrawing shows an elongated hollow casing 2 of nonmagnetic material withan elongated magnetic core assembly designated collectively by referencenumeral 4 rotatably received in the casing 2. A ramp or flight ofnonmagnetic material is wound helically or spirally around the casing 2for causing the articles a attracted by the magnetic core assembly 4 toadvance along the length of the casing 2 upon rotation of the magneticcore assembly 4 relative to the casing 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pitch P of the ramp 6 varies such that thedistance between adjacent coils. of the ramp progressively decrease atone end of the ramp, that is, the end adjacent the chute 1. Thus, thedistance b between coils 8 and 10 of the ramp 6 at the upper end of thecasing 2 is less than the distance c between the coils l0 and 12. Thedistance between adjacent pairs of the coils progressively decreasestoward the upper end of the casing2 to the minimum distance b betweenthe coils 8 and 10.

As shown in the drawings, the casing 2 is cylindrical with a circularcross-section, and the ramp extends radially outwardly from the casing 2to provide a support for the articles a attracted to the outer surfaceof the casing 2 by the magnetic force of the core assembly 4.

A plurality of rollers are mounted on the core assembly and engage theinner surface of the casing 2 to provide support for the core assemblyin a direction transverse to the axis of the casing 2, and to preventthe easing from collapsing inwardly from the force exerted by thearticles a due to the attraction of the magnetic core assembly. As shownin FIG. 1, a plurality of sets of rollers 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d arespaced axially along the length of the core assembly 4. Each-of the setsof rollers comprises a plurality of rollers 15 spaced angularly fromeach other about the rotary axis of the core assembly 4. For example, asshown in FIG. 2, four rollers 15 are shown for the set 14a, the rollers15 in FIG. 2 being spaced angularly from each other about the rotaryaxis of the core assembly 4.

The core assmbly 4 comprises a shaft 16 drlvingly engaged with a motor18 such that energization of the motor 18 causes rotation of the shaft16. Magnetic means is secured to the shaft 16. In the form shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the magnetic means includes a pair of elongated steelsupport bars 18 and 20 mounted on diametrically opposed sides of theaxis of shaft 16 and extending along the length of the casing 2; and apair of elongated magnetic bars 22 and 24 mounted between the supportbars 18 and 20 on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of shaft 16and extending along the length of the casing. The magnets 22 and 24 inthe illustrated embodiments are permanent magnets and are oriented withrespect to each other such that the support bar 18 becomes the northpole of the assembly and the support bar 20 becomes the south pole ofthe assembly. It is, of course, within the scope of the invention to useelectromagnets instead of permanent magnets.

A collection tray 26 is formed at the discharge end of the ramp 6, thatis, the end including the upper coil 8 in FIG. 1. Articles a aredelivered onto the collection tray 26 from the ramp 6. Dividers 28, 30and 32 project from the collection tray 26 to form a plurality ofguideways for grouping the articles-a on opposite sidesof the dividers.The articles are separated into groups and fed onto the chute 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the chute 1 may pass through an alternating currentdemagnetizing coil 36 so that articles a moving along the chute 1 willbe subjected to the pulsating current from the coil 36 to disorient themolecules of the articles and thus demagnetize the articles.

Support brackets 38 and 40 may be mounted on the upper end of the casing2 as viewed in FIG. 1 for suspending the apparatus vertically with thelower end positioned in a supply of the articles a to be elevated to thedischarge chute 1. The magnetic core assembly 4 will attract thearticles a to the outer surface of the easing 2. Rotation of the coreassembly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 will causethe articles a to advance along the length of the casing 2 and movealong the spiral ramp 6 to the upper end of the casing 2. As thearticles move to the upper end, the decreasing pitch of the spiral ramp6 will cause the articles a to form into a single layer on coils 8 andas shown in FIG. 1, depending of course upon the size of the articles a.The articles are caused to move into the guideways of the collectiontray 26 and down the discharge chute l to a selected destination.Magnetism in the articles a caused by the core assembly 4 can be removedby the demagnetizing coil 36.

The casing 2 and the spiral ramp 6 may be of nonmagnetic material havinghigh resistance to corrosion and wear, or to chemical action insituations where the apparatus is to be employed to separate magneticmaterial from caustic chemical baths and the like.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the core assembly 4' comprises a shaft 16with a plurality of sets of magneticsupport arms 40, each set comprisingfour magnetic support arms 40 spaced angularly from each other about therotary axis of the core assembly 4'. In FIG. 3, four support arms 40 areshown spaced 90 apart about the axis of the shaft 16'. Magnets 42 aremounted on the support arms 40 in such a manner that the north pole ofthe magnet of one of the arms 40 is adjacent to the south pole of themagnet of the adjacent support arm 40. Rollers similar in constructionto the rollers 15 of the FIG. 2 embodiment, are also provided on a shaft16 in the embodiment of FIG. 3.

The assembly shown in the FIG. 3 embodiment is particularly suitable formoving groups of articles along the ramp 6 such that each group can bedelivered to the collection tray by selectively indexing the shaft 16about its rotary axis. Thus, each of the magnet assemblies 42 may have afield strong enough to attract a particular number, or a group ofarticles containing a number of articles lying within a known range, sothat the groups can be moved individually onto the collection tray 26 ifdesired.

Both embodiments shown in the drawing can be reversed so that the pitchdecreases from top to bottom instead of from bottom to top asillustrated. This would be particularly suitable when the apparatus isused for storage of parts, and selective release of the stored partsonto separate conveyors or chutes to individual automatic assemblymachines.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, itshould be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificconstruction shown. Alternatives in the construction and arrangement ofparts, all falling within the scope and spirit of the invention, will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: anelongated, hollow, cylindrical casing of non-magnetic material, saidcasing having a continuous, uninterrupted outer surface throughout itslength; an elongated magnetic core assmbly rotatably received in saidcasing; means for rotating said assembly and a ramp of non-magneticmaterial wound spirally around the outside of said casing and extendingradially outwardly from said casing, said core assembly being operableupon rotation relative to said casing to attract articles to the outersurface of said casing and cause the articles to rotate about the axisof said casing while remaining on said outer surface, said ramp causingsaid articles to advance along the length of said casing in response torotation of said core assembly.-

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pitch of said rampvariessuch that the distance between adjacent coils of said ramp progressivelydecreases at one end of said ramp.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including a collection tray formed onsaid one end of said ramp for receiving articles from said ramp.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including at least one dividerprojecting from said tray for grouping articles on opposite sidesthereof on said tray.

a discharge chute on said tray.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further including demagnetizing meanson said discharge ramp.

7. Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: anelongated hollow casing of nonmagnetic material; an elongated magneticcore assembly rotatably received in said casing; means for rotating saidassembly a ramp of nonmagnetic material wound spirally around saidcasing for causing articles attracted by said core assembly to advancealong the length of said casing upon rotation of said core assemblyrelative to said casing; the pitch of said ramp varying such that thedistance between adjacent coils of said ramp progressively decreases atone end of said ramp, said casing being cylindrical and said rampextending radially outwardly from said casing; and a plurality ofrollers mounted on said core assembly and engaging the inner surface ofsaid casing to provide support for said core assembly in a directiontransverse to the axis of said casing.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said plurality of rollerscomprises a plurality of sets of rollers spaced axially along the lengthof said core assembly.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said sets of rollerscomprises a plurality of rollers spaced angularly from each other aboutthe rotary axis of said core assembly.

10; Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said core assembly comprisesa shaft of nonmagnetic material, and magnetic means secured to saidshaft.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said core assembly comprisesa shaft; a pair of elongated support bars mounted on diametricallyopposed sides of the axis of said shaft and extending along the lengthof said casing; and a pair of elongated magnetic bars mountedbetweensaid support bars on diametrically opposite sides of the axis ofsaid shaft andextending along the length of saidcasing.

12, Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pitch of said rampvaries such that the distance between adjacent coils of said rampprogressively decreases at one end of said ramp.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said core assemblycomprises: a shaft; a plurality of axially s aced sets of ma net su onarms 0 sad shaft; (1 V a p g pp n an plurality of axially spaced sets ofmagnet support at least one magnet carried by each of said magnetsupport arms. r

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein each set of magnet supportarms comprises a plurality of magnet support arms spaced angularly fromeach other about the rotary axis of said core assembly.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the 10 of said casing uponrotation of said core assembly 5 relative to said casing, said coreassembly comprising a shaft; a pair of elongated support bars mounted ondiametrically opposed sides of the axis of said shaft and extendingalong the length of said casing; and a ISlpair of elongated magneticbars mounted between said support bars on diametrically opposite sidesof the axis of said shaft and extending along the length of said casing.1

i 17, Apparatus'for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising:an elongated hallow casing of nonmagnetic material; an elongatedmagnetic core iassembly rotatably received in said casing; means J forrotating said assembly and a ramp of non-magnetic materialwound spirallyaroundl the outside of said leasing for causing articles attracted bysaid core lassembly to advance alongthe length of said casing iuponrotation of said core assembly relative to said .casing, said coreassembly comprising: a shaft; a

arms on said shaft; and at least one magnet carried by each of saidmagnet support arms.

l8: Apparatus as claimeddnclaim f7 wherein each set of magnet supportarms comprises a plurality of magnet support arms spacedangularlyfrom'each other .about the rotary axis of saidcore assembly.

1. Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: anelongated, hollow, cylindrical casing of nonmagnetic material, saidcasing having a continuous, uninterrupted outer surface throughout itslength; an elongated magnetic core assmbly rotatably received in saidcasing; means for rotating said assembly and a ramp of non-magneticmaterial wound spirally around the outside of said casing and extendingradially outwardly from said casing, said core assembly being operableupon rotation relative to said casing to attract articles to the outersurface of said casing and cause the articles to rotate about the axisof said casing while remaining on said outer surface, said ramp causingsaid articles to advance along the length of said casing in response torotation of said core assembly.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1wherein the pitch of said ramp varies such that the distance betweenadjacent coils of said ramp progressively decreases at one end of saidramp.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including a collection trayformed on said one end of said ramp for receiving articles from saidramp.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including at least one dividerprojecting from said tray for grouping articles on opposite sidesthereof on said tray.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 furtherincluding a discharge chute on said tray.
 6. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 5 further including demagnetizing means on said discharge ramp. 7.Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: anelongated hollow casing of non-magnetic material; an elongated magneticcore assembly rotatably received in said casing; means for rotating saidassembly a ramp of nonmagnetic material wound spirally around saidcasing for causing articles attracted by said core assembly to advancealong the length of said casing upon rotation of said core assemblyrelative to said casing; the pitch of said ramp varying such that thedistance between adjacent coils of said ramp progressively decreases atone end of said ramp, said casing being cylindrical and said rampextending radially outwardly from said casing; and a plurality ofrollers mounted on said core assembly and engaging the inner surface ofsaid casing to provide support for said core assembly in a directiontransverse to the axis of said casing.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim7 wherein said plurality of rollers comprises a plurality of sets ofrollers spaced axially along the length of said core assembly. 9.Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said sets of rollerscomprises a plurality of rollers spaced angularly from each other aboutthe rotary axis of said core assembly.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim9 wherein said core assembly comprises a shaft of nonmagnetic material,and magnetic means secured to said shaft.
 11. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 9 wherein said core assembly comprises a shaft; a pair ofelongated support bars mounted on diametrically opposed sides of theaxis of said shaft and extending along the length of said casing; and apair of elongated magnetic bars mounted between said support bars ondiametrically opposite sides of the axis of said shaft and extendingalong the length of said casing.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11wherein the pitch of said ramp varies such that the distance betweenadjacent Coils of said ramp progressively decreases at one end of saidramp.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said core assemblycomprises: a shaft; a plurality of axially spaced sets of magnet supportarms on said shaft; and at least one magnet carried by each of saidmagnet support arms.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein eachset of magnet support arms comprises a plurality of magnet support armsspaced angularly from each other about the rotary axis of said coreassembly.
 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the pitch of saidramp varies such that the distance between adjacent coils of said rampprogressively decreases at one end of said ramp.
 16. Apparatus forhandling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: an elongated hollowcasing of non-magnetic material; an elongated magnetic core assemblyrotatably received in said casing; means for rotating said assembly aramp of nonmagnetic material wound spirally around said casing forcausing articles attracted by said core assembly to advance along thelength of said casing upon rotation of said core assembly relative tosaid casing, said core assembly comprising a shaft; a pair of elongatedsupport bars mounted on diametrically opposed sides of the axis of saidshaft and extending along the length of said casing; and a pair ofelongated magnetic bars mounted between said support bars ondiametrically opposite sides of the axis of said shaft and extendingalong the length of said casing.
 17. Apparatus for handling articles bymagnetic attraction comprising: an elongated hollow casing ofnon-magnetic material; an elongated magnetic core assembly rotatablyreceived in said casing; means for rotating said assembly and a ramp ofnon-magnetic material wound spirally around the outside of said casingfor causing articles attracted by said core assembly to advance alongthe length of said casing upon rotation of said core assembly relativeto said casing, said core assembly comprising: a shaft; a plurality ofaxially spaced sets of magnet support arms on said shaft; and at leastone magnet carried by each of said magnet support arms.
 18. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 17 wherein each set of magnet support arms comprises aplurality of magnet support arms spaced angularly from each other aboutthe rotary axis of said core assembly.